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NOT QUITE UP TO PATCH
(2 March 2004, 23:55 | Civ3) For those looking to install the version 1.29 German update for Civilization III, and own a copy of the Best of Atari version of the title, will find themselves out of luck. In order to be able to install the game in the first place users have to follow specific instructions from its publisher Atari to work around a previously identified technical problem [see story]. However, as is now being reporte such as on fansite Civ3.de, one cannot go beyond the included version 1.16 update that the Best release comes with.
In what is hoped only a temporary move, the company coming under siege from its affected customers in Germany has removed the version 1.29f patch from its website. It had been officially available for download and use since last March [related story]. - DanQ
FEATURE FOCUS OF SECOND DIARY
(2 March 2004, 23:52 | RoN) The second developer diary from Big Huge Games (BHG) with regards to the Rise of Nations expansion pack Thrones and Patriots has been published on 1UP.com. Ths edition focuses on the `Conquer the World` feature as relayed by a collaborative effort of the team`s designers and programmers. From the introductory paragraph:
[I]t was clear that [this] would be given the task of generating a large portion of the content for the [T&P] expansion. [..] Our experiments included creating scenarios that played differently than standard [RoN] battles. As a result of the popularity of [`]Conquer the World[`], it was obvious that we needed to create as many new types of scenarios as possible.
This time around, BHG decided to make several campaigns that would provide a more focused historical context. Each of this works that evolved from there -- Alexander the Great, Napoleon, The New World, a Chinese campaign, and an undetermined Modern Age campaign -- are individually elaborated upon. On the second and final page of the piece, it is said:
While we have just described the thinking that shaped the campaigns into what they are now, we certainly tried many other ideas that were rejected. When we took our campaigns into [publisher] Microsoft [Game Studios'] user testing labs, we were pretty confident that we had a fun game, but, as always, we were surprised by how things played out. [..] We also learned the extreme importance of showing players what their objectives are at all times.
Four screenshots are included in a separate image gallery. The article was posted on 1UP last Friday. For a report on the original instalment of this feature, click here. - DanQ
IF THIS IS THE BETA...
(2 March 2004, 23:44 | RoN) In an uncredited piece by one of their staff members, Worthplaying (WP) has previewed Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots. [T]he [base] game offers a head spinning array of ways to do things. And trust me, this new expansion pack only ups the ante significantly, the writer begins. [It] packs quite a bit of new content into an already vast game.
Each new nation the add-on brings is briefly described followed by unique units and what is [p]erhaps the biggest aspect of T&P, the government feature, which fits into the game extremely well. How this system is played out is then explored over a couple of paragraphs. Later, it is written that [a]n overview article on the government strategies alone would go a few pages, and the more complex decisions with patriot units and national abilities is going to take some extended study. The campaigns, meanwhile, seem well done technically, and will likely be an enjoyable experience for those that like to play strategy games in this way. But the proof is in the gameplay, and even with the beta [that I was given, the expansion] brings a lot to the table, WP surmizes.
New wonders, music and few front end and interface innovations that seem to streamline some things are also touched upon. The WP previewer bemoans the length of time between now and T&P`s anticipated release date because this is by far the most complete and secure marketing beta I have ever dealt with. In conclusion:
I`ve never seen an expansion pack quite like it. [This] adds to the [RoN] experience. It doesn`t alter or change much of anything, and that`s good because it didn`t need to. It just adds to the mystique that this game already has.
Thirty-seven screenshots are dispersed throughout the article. - DanQ
BLITZKRIEG 1936 RELEASED
(2 March 2004, 15:30 | Civ2) Kobra has released a scenario titled Blitzkrieg 1936. It plays on a world map and starts in, you guessed it, 1936.
In October 1936 Italy`s Mussolini made an alliance with Germany`s Adolf Hitler. Ethiopian trade concessions were extended to Germany (Ethiopia had been conquered by Italy in May). They also declared common policies towards Spain, the Danubian countries, the Soviet Union, and the League of Nations. Mussolini called the new alliance the "Rome Berlin Axis".
The big question in this scenario is can you avoid WW2? The scenario, which has been designed for MP/PBEM (but with an SP version on its way), is 591kB large and can be downloaded from Kobra`s upload folder. - Locutus
ON EXPANSION`S ARCHITECTURE
(1 March 2004, 23:09 | RoN) In supplementing PC|IGN`s preview of Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots, some staff members at title developer Big Huge Games wrote a one-page diary that offers a more detailed look at the architectural modifications the expansion pack will bring to the RoN universe. We knew that there would be some challenges, considering the diversity of the... styles and the time constraints we had, but we knew that the results would be well worth the extra work involved, they begin.
Half-a-dozen, high resolution building art pieces are then shown and briefly explained. In a separate media gallery, two screenshots showing this artwork`s inclusion in the game environment are also included. - DanQ
A BENCHMARK ADDICTION STORY
(1 March 2004, 23:02 | RoN) In the words of Rise of Nations developer Big Huge Games, not even a mortar attack could interrupt their game. The group being referred to are seven United States soldiers serving overseas who are intense RoN players; in writing into BHG with their story, they also included a photograph to go along with it.
Sargeant Keith Flores writes on behalf of the troop. We were peacefully screaming threats at each other during a [three-on-three] game that was very tight. [..] Then a call came in saying we were under mortar attack. Standard procedure has us dress in our body armor, ready our weapons, and wait in place just in case we are needed to man defenses.
So, we waited in place... and continued our game until the all clear came over the radio.
Naturally, details on Flores and company`s exact location and related data are not discussed in the note for security purposes. - DanQ
